Expert delegation from the Forensic Science Center „Ivan Vučetić“ of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, led by its director Andrea Ledić, visited the israeli colleagues from the Division for Identification and Forensic Sciences (DIFS).

Following a recent meeting of Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan with the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia dr.sc. Davor Božinović, where the strengthening of cooperation in forensic experience exchange between the two states was discussed and agreed upon, the expert delegation from the Forensic Science Centre „Ivan Vučetić“ of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, led by its director Andrea Ledić, visited the israeli colleagues from the Division for Identification and Forensic Sciences (DIFS). DIFS is one of the leading forensic institutions in the world with significant experience in all fields of forensic science.

Besides the experts from „Ivan Vučetić“ Center, the Croatian delegation also included Professor Dragan Primorac, initiator of the fruitful coperation between the two institutions and a representative of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and Assistant Professor Saša Missoni, director of the Institute for Anthropological Research, who was particularly focused on the field of forensic anthropology.

The visit to the Israeli DFIS began with a meeting with Mrs. Myriam Azoury, Chief of DIFS and the most famous Israeli forensics professor, Professor Yossi Almog, who has received numerous awards in the field of forensic science, including the prestigious “Lucas Medal” of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

Chief of DIFS, General Azoury, used this opportunity to present the new structure of DIFS, developed according to the so-called “CSI concept” of the Israeli police. She emphasized the significance of the collaboration between police officers working on the field and the experts handling the material traces afterwards. Chief Azoury emphasized that “the foundation for the promotion of excellence in forensic science is the continuous, life-long education of staff which can be accomplished by raising the academic level and participating in different scientific projects”.

The exchange of experiences, best practices and common challenges of the two respectable forensic institutes were discussed during the meeting. In addition, specific forms of future cooperation were defined, starting with a return visit of the DIFS delegation to the Forensic Science Centre „Ivan Vučetić“ of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior.

More than 200 dignitaries from Croatia, Israel and a number of other countries attended a traditional reception hosted by the Embassy of Israel and the Croatian-Israeli Business Club. Among the guests were prof. dr. Mate Granić, special adviser to the president of Croatia and her envoy for the occasion, Health Minister prof. dr. Milan Kujundžić, Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli, Minister of Science and Education prof.dr. Pavo Barišić, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mirko Šundov, Chairman of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), Zvonko Kusić, HAZU Secretary-General, Pavao Rudan, ambassadors of Slovakia, the United Kingdom and Ireland, a number of parliament members, judges from the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court and Administrative Court, judges from county and municipal courts, rectors and deans of Croatian universities, heads of institutes and the best Croatian students.

Members of the fire-fighting squad of the Croatian Air Force attended as special guests. The squad, which recently took part in battling wildfires in Israel, included colonel Davor Turković, major Tomislav Slavica, lieutenant Dario Rudela, sergeant Ante Kazija and corporal Ivan Tomić. One of the most prominent Israeli public figures, Mogi Giladi, who is a personal friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, flew in for the occasion. The reception was also attended by well-known Croatian athletes and coaches, Davor Šuker, Franjo Arapović, Dubravko Šimenc, Zoran Primorac, Veljko Mršić, Ćiro Blažević, Ante Čačić and many others.

Her Excellency Zina Kalay-Kleitman, Israeli ambassador, expressed her satisfaction with the big turnout and emphasized the big role the Croatian-Israeli Business Club has played in launching a number of cultural, scientific and business projects between the two countries. She thanked the Republic of Croatia and the members of its Air Force who recently joined in the effort to help localize and extinguish a big blaze in Israel.

Prof. Dragan Primorac, M.D., Ph.D., president of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club, said the Club had become an important link between the two countries, from its very beginnings and the big support it had from Israeli President Shimon Peres. He announced a globally important scientific event that will be organised in Croatia next year and will be attended by two Nobel Prize winners from Israel.

Moti Giladi: I am grateful to my friend, prof. dr. Dragan Primorac, for the fantastic results in bringing Croatia and Israel closer together. I take this opportunity to convey the thanks from the Israeli people and Prime Minister Netanyahu to Croatia after you recently helped us put out a big fire in our country. The song ‘Croatia iz duše te ljubim’, which I sang today, best describes how much we appreciate the friendship of our two countries.

The Croatian-Israeli Business Club was founded in 2010 with the aim to promote cooperation between the two countries, particularly in business. Members of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club are prominent figures from politics, business and culture in Croatia and Israel and include Israeli billionaire Itshak Tshuva, president of the American-Israeli Chamber of Commerce and the son of the Israeli president, Chemi Peres, a number of Israeli cabinet members, leading businessmen and many public figures from the State of Israel. CIBC branches are active in the United States, the United Kingdom and the South African Republic, while the CIBC advisory board comprises the leading Croatian and Israeli businessmen, as well as current and former politicians.

Zagreb, 14 December 2015 – The Croatian-Israeli Business Club (CIBC) and the Embassy of Israel in the Republic of Croatia organized a traditional pre-holiday gathering and a reception in the banqueting hall of AS Hotel in Zagreb.

With US Ambassador H.E. Julieta Valls Noyes, and the ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Korea, China, Ukraine and others, the ceremony was attended by many other prominent Croatian cultural, political, scientific and public life: Minister of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia Hon. Vedran Mornar, Ph.D., Minister of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Hon. Siniša Varga, Ph.D., Head of Representation of the European Commission in Croatia H.E. Branko Baričević, Croatian National Bank Governor Mr. Boris Vujčić, Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament academician Željko Reiner, Zagreb Mayor Mr. Milan Bandić, rectors of the Croatian Universities Mr. Damir Boras, Ph.D., Mr. Željko Turkalj, Ph.D., Mr. Pero Lučin, Ph.D., Mr. Željko Tanjić, Ph.D. President of the Municipal Criminal Court in Zagreb Mr. Vinko Mioč, Ombudsman for Children Ivana Milas Klarić, Ph.D., Secretary General of the Croatian Academy of Science and Arts Academician Pavao Rudan, famous athletes Davor Šuker, Franjo Arapović, Zoran Primorac, Veljko Mršić, Dubravko Šimenc, Damir Škaro, Robert Kovač, and many other successful business people from Croatia, Israel, Korea, USA and other parts of the world. For this occasion a special guest arrived from Israel Mr. Moti Giladi, a personal friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an Israeli media and music star.

H.E. Zina Kalay Kleitman the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Croatia welcomed all attendees, adding that the last year was marked by very good cooperation between the two countries at all levels, which resulted in the visit of the President of the Croatia H.E. Kolinda Grabar Kitraović to Israel, and said that she believes that this trend will continue in the next year. President of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club Prof. Dragan Primorac, Ph.D., expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration of the Club with the Israeli Embassy in Croatia by referring to the number of initiatives that were launched in 2015 and which will continue in 2016. He singled out the area of health and energy where by now has been realized many important projects and cooperation between Croatia and Israel. Among them is certainly the most important co-operation with a leading Israeli hospital Hadassah Medical Centre and with a number of Nobel Prize winners who regularly visited Croatia.

Zagreb, 10 December 2014 – Croatian-Israeli Business Club – CIBC (www.cibc.hr) and the Embassy of Israel in the Republic of Croatia organized a traditional pre-holiday gathering and a reception in the banqueting hall of AS Hotel in Zagreb.

Ambassadors of Japan, Greece, Kosovo, Albania, Azerbaijan, Korea, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and representatives of the US Embassy in Zagreb where joined by many other prominent guests from Croatian cultural, political, scientific and public life: Vedran Mornar, Minister of Science, Education and Sports, Luka Burilović President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Ivan Turudić, President of the Zagreb County Court, Mario Vukelić, President of the High Commercial Court, Academician Pjer Šimonović, Croatian Ambassador to Israel, Academician Pavao Rudan, Secretary-General of the CASA, sports celebrities such as Davor Šuker, Franjo Arapović, Nikola Vujičić, Zoran Primorac, President of the Olympians Club, together with Shimon Mizrahia, owner of Tel Aviv basketball club Maccabi, and many other distinguished businessmen from Croatia, Israel, Korea, Australia and other parts of the world. The musical part of the gathering featured a performance by the world famous Croatian cellist Ana Rucner.

The newly appointed Israeli Ambassador to Croatia, H.E. Zina Kalay Kleitman, addressed the assembled guests, noting that there is still room for improvement of cooperation between the two countries. She complimented the work of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club and in closing expressed her confidence that she and the Club will work closely together during her term of office.

Prof Dragan Primorac, president of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club expressed the pleasure for seeing such a great audience gathered from all parts of the social scene from so many different countries, especially greeting the distinguished guests coming from the region, asserting that once their countries join the EU too, the take-off of the region may finally be at hand. In his closing remark he shared the message that success is not a matter of chance but rather of choice, and that he was personally confident of the bright future ahead.

Croatian-Israeli Business Club was founded in 2010 with the aim of promoting cooperation between the two countries at all levels, and preparing grounds for infusion of Israeli capital in the Republic of Croatia and the region, but in the opposite direction just as well. The membership of the Croatian -Israeli Business Club includes notable personages form public, cultural and economic life of the Republic of Croatia and Israel, including the Israeli billionaire Itshak Tshuva, President of the American-Israeli Chamber of Commerce and son of the President of Israel Chemi Peres, a number of members of the Israeli Government, top businessmen and many people from the state of Israel public life. Branches of the CIBC are also active in the US, Great Britain and South Africa. The advisory committee of the Club counts leading Croatian and Israeli businessmen and both, active and former politicians.

The Croatian-Israeli Business Club and the Embassy of the State of Israel in Croatia have organized the Season’s Gathering and Farewell Reception in honor of H.E. Mr. Yossi Amrani, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Republic of Croatia. This reception which is traditionally organized just before Christmas became one of the most prestigious events in Croatia which gathers more than two hundred dignitaries from the spheres of Croatian and Israeli economy, politics, medicine, media, culture, science and sports. This year the reception was marked by a large number of ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Republic of Croatia.

The event was attended by a large number of dignitaries including Rabbi Kotel Da Don and Rabbi Pini Zaklas, president of the Jewish Community Zagreb Dr.Ognjen Kraus, Mayor of the City of Zagreb Milan Bandić , Vice-President of the City Assembly of Zagreb Davor Bernardić, President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia Branko Hrvatin, president of the High Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia Ante Galić, a series of ambassadors accredited in Croatia, including Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb Margaret H. Nardi, Head of representation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia Branko Baričević, Rector of the University of Osijek Prof. Željko Turkalj, a series of Croatian university deans and directors of numerous scientific institutions, leaders of the Croatian labour unions Krešimir Sever, Vilim Ribić and Branimir Mihalinec, Croatian General Damir Krstičević, Croatian athletes Franjo Arapović and Veljko Mršić , Croatian Ambassador in France dr. Ivo Goldstein, CEO of Pliva (member of Teva Group) Tihomir Orešković and other CEO’s of major Croatian companies, chief editors of media houses in Croatia, etc.

Israeli Ambassador Yossi Amrani thanked all the guests for coming and expressed his satisfaction that in the past few years he had the opportunity to meet a large number of people with whom he collaborated in Croatia. Besides falling in love with Croatia and gaining a large number of friends Amrani said that during his manadate, the Croatian-Israeli relations improved a lot for which there is much credit to give to the Croatian-Israeli Business Club headed by Prof. Dragan Primorac.

President and one of the founders of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club Prof. Dragan Primorac warmly thanked Ambassador Amrani for his friendship and all the efforts he has put in the past few years to improve the relations between Israel and Croatia. He gave appraisal to all the employees of the Israeli embassy for their exceptional work and cooperation in the recent years, as well as to the members of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club, especially Secretary General Mr. Igor Zgrabljić. Prof. Primorac emphasized that this event is also significant after the Croatian accession to the European Union which positioned Croatia as the main hub for the Israeli capital in the region and beyond, as well as a true opportunity for investors. The Croatian-Israeli Business Club will be one of the key institutions that will guide these processes, he concluded.

On this occasion the Croatian-Israeli Business Club introduced the newly elected members of the Club; Stipić Group Ltd represented by CEO Zlatko Stipić and owner Franciska Stipić , Kamgrad Ltd represented by owner Dragutin Kamenski and Board member Domagoj Kamenski, Luxor Group Ltd represented by Board member Igor Sušić and Pedersen & Partners represented by Country manager Sanja Brkić.

Zagreb-Dubrovnik, October 3, 2013 – During the European Energy Security Forum in Dubrovnik the U.S.-Israeli delegation headed by Mr. Yitzhak Tshuva (U.S.-Israeli billionaire and majority owner of Delek Group) and Prof. Dragan Primorac, President of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club (CIBC) met with a number of prominent people from the energy sector and energy policymakers from several countries including with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy of the United States of America Mr. Amos Hochstein. During the meeting with the U.S.-Israeli delegation Mr. Hochstein said that Croatia has great potential in the field of energy and represents an opportunity for all investors from the energy sector. Since the Delek Group headed by Mr Yitzhak Tshuva is one of the major players in the U.S. energy market, Mr. Hochstein wished much success to the Delek group for its activities on the Croatian market, and stated that the U.S. will support all projects in the region, especially in Croatia, which will create preconditions for the energy independence and economic stability of the region.

One of the most influential U.S. senators, a member of the National Security Working Group and a co-chair of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism Caucus of the U.S. Senate, met in New Jersey with Prof. Dragan Primorac. Bob Casey is the U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania, which is home to Penn State University, one of the biggest U.S. universities where prof. Dragan Primorac is professor at the School of Forensic Science. Senator Casey will be the next few days with colleagues in Washington to discuss a possible American intervention in Syria, on which the decision will eventually be made by U.S. President Barack Obama.

During his visit to Israel as the president of the Croatian – Israeli Business Club (CIBC), Prof.Dragan Primorac met with several members of the Club in order to talk about various business investments in Croatia and the entry of Croatian products to the Israeli market. During his meeting with Eliezer Sandberg, former minister of Science and Technology of Israel and the current president of Keren Hayesod (United Israel Appeal), key organisation in the development of the modern state of Israel which was founded way back in 1920, he was arranging joint appearances of Croatian and Israeli economic subjects on third markets. The strength and the respect that the United Israel Appeal enjoys is best proven by the fact that they have offices on all continents and in all major cities in the world.

Meeting with a long time friend Yaakov Perry, current minister of Science, Technologies and Space and the current member of Knesset was extremely productive. According to various analyses, Perry is one of the most influential people in the history of Israel who, among other things, was the head of the Israeli Intelligence Agency between 1988 and 1994 and whose life and work are the subject of the Oscar nominated documentary „The Gatekeepers“. During his visit to Knesset prof. dr. Primorac also met with the Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs Meir Cohen.

Prof. dr. Primorac’s visit to Israel was also an opportunity to meet with several Croats currently living in Israel including Nikola Vujčić, renowned Croatian basketball player and current sports director of the Maccabi basketball club in Tel Aviv.

July 8, 2013 – President of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club, prof. dr. Dragan Primorac is officially visiting Israel. During his visit, he met several leading Israeli politicians and entrepreneurs and all of them have expressed their support for the work of the Croatian-Israeli Business Club, a deeper cooperation between Croatia and Israel as well as investments in the Croatian economy.

During his visit to the Israeli parliament – Knesset, prof.dr. Primorac met with the Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelestein who expressed his wish for an intensified cooperation between Croatia and Israel, especially within the framework of the European Union where Croatia should become one of key partners for the entry of Israeli capital into the European Union. During this meeting, negotiations have begun concerning the long awaited conference and forum of the Croatian – Israeli Business Club which will soon take place in Israel with the main goal of raising the cooperation between two countries to an even higher level.

Prof.dr. Primorac also met with several leading members of the government, including the Minister of Science, Technology and Space and Croatian-Israeli Business Club Advisory board member Yaakov Perry, Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs Meir Cohen and other Knesset members.

Croatian-Israeli Business Club (CIBC), was founded the official visit of President Shimon Perez to Croatia in July 2010 and it received great support for its future endeavours. Since then, Croatian-Israeli Business Club has been constantly engaged on developing the cooperation between Croatia and Israel in the fields of economy, medicine, energy and culture and it currently plays a key role for the entry of Israeli capital into Croatia and the entire region.

Croatian – Israeli Business Club is comprised of renowned individuals from the public-political, cultural and economic spheres of both Croatia and Israel. The Club has offices in the USA, UK, Italy, Republic of South Africa and Botswana.

The Croatian-Israeli Business Club (CIBC) led by the President Prof. Dragan Primorac hosted the welcome reception in honor of Prof.Dan Shechtman, Nobel prize Laureate in chemistry 2011. The reception was attented by many prominent people from the diplomatic, academic, political and business life of Croatia and Israel. Among many guests at CIBC reception were H.E. Yosef Amrani, Israeli ambassador to Croatia, H.E. Paul Vandoren accompanied by Ms Vandoren, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Croatia, Prof. Pavao Rudan, Secretary General of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, representatives of the top Croatian companies Mr Zvonimir Mršić, CEO of Podravka, Mr Tihomir Orešković, CEO of PLIVA HRVATSKA, Mr Ivan Krešić, Member of the Board of INA, Mr Mirko Galić, former director of Croatian National Television and Advisor to the President of Agrokor, Mr Davor Stern and many other. The reception was a chance to reflect on the successful model of academic cooperation established between Croatia and Israel with a budget of 1 million US dollars available for scientists from the two countries.